BR Zoo cuts ribbon on new rhino exhibit

The new Indian rhino exhibit, formerly the Asian elephant exhibit, was made possible by a $150,000 donation from Friends of the Baton Rouge Zoo to help make the exhibit suitable for the new species. (Source: BREC BR Zoo)

Indian rhinoceros, which are native to the grasslands of India and Nepal, can be identified by their grey, armor-like skin and single horn.

They are generally solitary mammals that spend their evenings grazing on tall grasses and other vegetation.

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) -
A Thursday morning ribbon-cutting officially welcomed Anala to her new home at BREC's Baton Rouge Zoo. The 2,570 pound Indian rhinoceros from Zoo Miami arrived in June. This 2-year-old female is the second species of rhino living at the Baton Rouge Zoo and is the only Indian rhino in Louisiana.

According to officials with the zoo, the new Indian rhino exhibit was made possible by a $150,000 donation from Friends of the Baton Rouge Zoo. The construction was completed in June. The area was formerly the Asian elephant exhibit.

“Our zoo has both Indian rhinos and black rhinos, something that's rather unusual for a zoo to have both, so we're excited today about that, but even more excited that it's the community that supported it to help make this possible,” said Phil Frost, Director of the Baton Rouge Zoo. “The Indian rhino has a very distinct appearance I think everyone will enjoy.”

Keepers say Anala, which means "fiery" in Sanskrit, is doing well.

"We've been really slow in letting her adjust to the yard at her own pace," said Jenny Fortune. "It's taken a lot of tricks, a lot of food bribes to get her to go where we want her to go. She's transferring out to the yard very well, going on exhibit fine, using her pool, eating her hay out there, so these are all good signs she's settling in nicely."

She gets a regular meal of grains and eats as much hay and grass as she wants.

"I don't want to say 'diva,' but she definitely has her little routine down, her schedule, so we try to accommodate her," Fortune said.

Part of the money raised went to the enclosed habitat. It features two stalls capable of holding two adult rhinos.

“Eventually we hope to add a male Indian rhinoceros to the exhibit,” said Sam Winslow, Assistant Director and General Curator. “However, it will still be a few more years until she's ready for a mate. In the rhino world, she's still considered pretty young.”

Indian rhinoceros, which are native to the grasslands of India and Nepal, can be identified by their grey, armor-like skin and single horn. They are generally solitary mammals that spend their evenings grazing on tall grasses and other vegetation. Despite their poor eye sight, they possess a strong sense of smell and hearing.

"The reason that they're killed is people believe that they can make medicines out of rhino horn, to cure everything from laryngitis to cancer. Truth is, it doesn't do any of that. In fact, it's made out of the same thing as your fingernails and your hair," she said.

Anala's horn is steadily growing in, and she'll double her weight by the time she reaches adulthood.

For more information about visiting hours at the Zoo, please visit www.brzoo.org.

Theaters around the country including right here in Lake Charles are selling out for the movie Black panther. But for many in the community they got a chance to see the movie for free, thanks to one Lake Charles native. The mall food court was packed Saturday. As a large group enjoyed their tea,lemonade, pizza and boudin, but the mall food court wasn't their final stop. Because everyone was headed to the movies to see Black Panther. Marrion Borden was so e...More >>

Theaters around the country including right here in Lake Charles are selling out for the movie Black panther. But for many in the community they got a chance to see the movie for free, thanks to one Lake Charles native. The mall food court was packed Saturday. As a large group enjoyed their tea,lemonade, pizza and boudin, but the mall food court wasn't their final stop. Because everyone was headed to the movies to see Black Panther. Marrion Borden was so e...More >>

Tonight, the showers will start to wind down. There should not be much rain left after midnight. Clouds will linger overnight. It will still be a muggy night, with temperatures not cooling down very much. I’m forecasting a low of 59 degrees, but it may not cool down that far overnight. By Sunday, the same front that stalled over us, will begin to weaken. Therefore, I do not think there will be many showers around. I’m keeping a 20% for a little bit of drizzle overnight.

Tonight, the showers will start to wind down. There should not be much rain left after midnight. Clouds will linger overnight. It will still be a muggy night, with temperatures not cooling down very much. I’m forecasting a low of 59 degrees, but it may not cool down that far overnight. By Sunday, the same front that stalled over us, will begin to weaken. Therefore, I do not think there will be many showers around. I’m keeping a 20% for a little bit of drizzle overnight.

It's been more than five years in the making, but Saturday Captain Daniel Johannes Goos now stands over the lakefront in Lake Charles. Crowds of people gathered by the Lakefront Promenade this morning all waiting to see the the statue of Captain Daniel Johannes Goos. "When you mention Captain Daniel Goos you may get he sounds familiar or if you're lucky you get oh like Goosport," said descendant Erik Jessen.

It's been more than five years in the making, but Saturday Captain Daniel Johannes Goos now stands over the lakefront in Lake Charles. Crowds of people gathered by the Lakefront Promenade this morning all waiting to see the the statue of Captain Daniel Johannes Goos. "When you mention Captain Daniel Goos you may get he sounds familiar or if you're lucky you get oh like Goosport," said descendant Erik Jessen.

KPLC's Black History Month profiles continue with a couple who knew how to let the good times roll. When Bernard Beaco married his wife Dolores in 1955, he never imagined that their move to Lake Charles would be long term. But as the years went by they made an impact, one that can be felt especially during Mardi Gras season. "We did everything together.," said Bernard. "We were a twosome." If you saw Bernard Beaco, Dolores was usually rig...

KPLC's Black History Month profiles continue with a couple who knew how to let the good times roll. When Bernard Beaco married his wife Dolores in 1955, he never imagined that their move to Lake Charles would be long term. But as the years went by they made an impact, one that can be felt especially during Mardi Gras season. "We did everything together.," said Bernard. "We were a twosome." If you saw Bernard Beaco, Dolores was usually rig...

The city of Sulphur reports that all city offices will be closed Monday, February 19th, 2018, in observance of President's Day. There will be no interruptions to the residential garbage collection schedule.

The city of Sulphur reports that all city offices will be closed Monday, February 19th, 2018, in observance of President's Day. There will be no interruptions to the residential garbage collection schedule.